LasersHurt:They suggested that people who crunch data in the lockup use provided PCs to increase security. It's not an attempt at censorship and propaganda, it's a security thing. That said, if there are concerns about it, it's fine to back-burner it or work on making it work better for everyone. But let's not pretend this is anything more than it is.

Would this be your average Fark response if this was done under Bush? I don't think so...

mike0023:LasersHurt: They suggested that people who crunch data in the lockup use provided PCs to increase security. It's not an attempt at censorship and propaganda, it's a security thing. That said, if there are concerns about it, it's fine to back-burner it or work on making it work better for everyone. But let's not pretend this is anything more than it is.

Would this be your average Fark response if this was done under Bush? I don't think so...

mike0023:LasersHurt: They suggested that people who crunch data in the lockup use provided PCs to increase security. It's not an attempt at censorship and propaganda, it's a security thing. That said, if there are concerns about it, it's fine to back-burner it or work on making it work better for everyone. But let's not pretend this is anything more than it is.

Would this be your average Fark response if this was done under Bush? I don't think so...

Would this be your average Fark response if this was done under Pitt the Younger? I don't think so...

LasersHurt:DjangoStonereaver: LasersHurt: They suggested that people who crunch data in the lockup use provided PCs to increase security. It's not an attempt at censorship and propaganda, it's a security thing.

That said, if there are concerns about it, it's fine to back-burner it or work on making it work better for everyone. But let's not pretend this is anything more than it is.

Well lookie here. I found a picture of LasersHurt on teh internets:

[www.brendanwalsh.us image 396x361]

Sorry for not immediately assuming the worst.

You've obviously never worked on gummint computer networks if you didn't.

Arkanaut:Isn't all this data public? Or were they talking about giving analysts individual survey data?

Yep, low level data. The government is allowing with signed NDA, certain individuals direct access to their network in order for them to be able to recompile the data and verify the governments own claims about the data. I've worked with government data reporting before, media claimers for the raw data all the time because they don't trust the governments numbers.

MindStalker:Arkanaut: Isn't all this data public? Or were they talking about giving analysts individual survey data?

Yep, low level data. The government is allowing with signed NDA, certain individuals direct access to their network in order for them to be able to recompile the data and verify the governments own claims about the data. I've worked with government data reporting before, media claimers for the raw data all the time because they don't trust the governments numbers.

That sounds somewhat fair then, although I can't imagine there's that much identifying information in there.

This is about data that is confidential until it gets published, like inflation and unemployment numbers. This is to prevent those evil corporations that Fark Libs love to hate getting an unfair advantage trading financial securities.

Sounds like a better solution would be to not let any reporters in and just release the data at a specific time on a network of computers. If only that was possible, if only ...

mike0023:LasersHurt: They suggested that people who crunch data in the lockup use provided PCs to increase security. It's not an attempt at censorship and propaganda, it's a security thing. That said, if there are concerns about it, it's fine to back-burner it or work on making it work better for everyone. But let's not pretend this is anything more than it is.

Would this be your average Fark response if this was done under Bush? I don't think so...

They wouldn't have responded because the right wing media weren't on an all out witch hunt to turn non-news into ZOMG!!! teh Muslim socialist is teh Hitler. So it wouldn't have ever been reported on.

beta_plus:This is about data that is confidential until it gets published, like inflation and unemployment numbers. This is to prevent those evil corporations that Fark Libs love to hate getting an unfair advantage trading financial securities.

Sounds like a better solution would be to not let any reporters in and just release the data at a specific time on a network of computers. If only that was possible, if only ...

Yeah, it's funny that they take greater care protecting economic data that will be public in a week than they do protecting details of the Bin Laden raid.

Locking reporters up in a room and not letting them use their own computers does not keep the data secret. The information walks with them either way unless the MiB amnesia device is real.

Well, if you're walking into a government building, into a government room, and connecting to the government's network, then yeah, they should be able to say you can't hook up your own laptop. In fact, I've never heard of a federal office that WOULD allow you to plug a non-government issued device into their network - to prevent viruses from your porn browsing from infecting their stuff if nothing else.

That said, unemployment statistics aren't exactly prime targets for espionage. I can tell you right now what the economic indicators due to be released next month will say. They'll say the economy sucks. It won't suck as much as it did last month, and it'll suck a little bit less next month, but it still sucks.

RolandGunner:beta_plus: This is about data that is confidential until it gets published, like inflation and unemployment numbers. This is to prevent those evil corporations that Fark Libs love to hate getting an unfair advantage trading financial securities.

Sounds like a better solution would be to not let any reporters in and just release the data at a specific time on a network of computers. If only that was possible, if only ...

Yeah, it's funny that they take greater care protecting economic data that will be public in a week than they do protecting details of the Bin Laden raid.

Locking reporters up in a room and not letting them use their own computers does not keep the data secret. The information walks with them either way unless the MiB amnesia device is real.

If you have the resources and connections, a five minute lead over everyone else for the latest unemployment figures is worth billions.

<b><a href="http://www.fark.com/comments/7156203/77414571#c77414571" target="_blank">LasersHurt</a>:</b> <i>Linux_Yes: But the plan also resulted in cries about potential free-speech violations and the government now having computer access to news agencies.

the Mega Media conglomerates (there are only about 4 of them left now, thanks to mergers) don't like it when they don't have complete control over "your" "news".

after all, big business has American Propaganda to spread so that a Free and Independent Press will never break out.

one of the main reasons why this Nation is so divided is because we aren't getting real news. we get what the Owners want us to get.

the only real news left is online from around the world where Corporate America can't reach/control.

Divide and conquer. if Americans can be kept at each others throats, then the Owners can continue to steal and pillage.

ain't Freedom great!

I love stories like this, because they help show you who's insanely paranoid.</i>

yea, you're right.

the richest 2% of Americans own more wealth than the bottom 90% and that sounds reasonable to you. be careful, if you go to google and do some research you might be surprised at what you fine..........

beta_plus:If you have the resources and connections, a five minute lead over everyone else for the latest unemployment figures is worth billions.

/firms fight over miliseconds advantages to those numbers

But that information is still being seen by journalists days in advance either way. Why let anyone look at the data before official release at all? Let alone journalists who are paid to tell everyone about the data anyway.

RolandGunner:beta_plus: If you have the resources and connections, a five minute lead over everyone else for the latest unemployment figures is worth billions.

/firms fight over miliseconds advantages to those numbers

But that information is still being seen by journalists days in advance either way. Why let anyone look at the data before official release at all? Let alone journalists who are paid to tell everyone about the data anyway.

Oh, I completely agree with you. I thought that's what I said originally. It's not clear at all why reporters need to be there. Everyone in the world bar a few government officials should get the number at the same time. It hasn't been clear why they still do this for over a decade. Everyone involved in the argument seems to be missing that.

beta_plus:Oh, I completely agree with you. I thought that's what I said originally. It's not clear at all why reporters need to be there. Everyone in the world bar a few government officials should get the number at the same time. It hasn't been clear why they still do this for over a decade. Everyone involved in the argument seems to be missing that.

Good, I didn't think we disagreed on this. It's only a story because it's the Government acting creepy.